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 · 939 ratings  · 95 reviews
Start your review of Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Curt Introduction
Petra X out of the blue a reply
Even though I've read quite a few anthropology books, this was nevertheless interesting. 1 affair I learned was that the main tool of anthropologists was long holidays in exotic locations periods spent in hard conditions with interesting people who might get to exist real friends people of a very unlike and oftentimes difficult civilisation. The main tool of sociologists is .. the survey and statistics. Well I know which one I'd rather be.

I lived up the Amazon with Caboclo Indians for three months at one point.

Fifty-fifty though I've read quite a few anthropology books, this was still interesting. I thing I learned was that the main tool of anthropologists was long holidays in exotic locations periods spent in hard weather with interesting people who might go to exist real friends people of a very dissimilar and ofttimes difficult culture. The principal tool of sociologists is .. the survey and statistics. Well I know which one I'd rather be.

I lived up the Amazon with Caboclo Indians for 3 months at i point. Practice y'all thinks someone might fund me to go and live with them for a couple of years? They have such lovely lives and I could do with a good long holiday. I'one thousand not bad at writing and I'm ok at statistics too, and then I'm sure I could come up with a written report at the stop of information technology. Now how to get that grant!

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محمّدفؤاد

چند وقت پيش چند تا عكس بى نظير ديدم از مجله ى نشنال جئوگرافى. عكاس يه ايرانى بود به نام حميد سردار افخمى. عكس ها مربوط به بيابانگردهاى مغول بود. اون دوره زياد شيفته ى مغول ها و تبتی ها و باقى ساكنان آسياى ميانه بودم و مى گشتم دنبال عكس هاشون.
توى اين عكس ها، قبيله هاى مغولی نشون داده شده بودن، با گوزن هاى بزرگ سفيدی كه مثل اسب اهلى كرده بودن و به عنوان مَركَب ازشون استفاده مى كردن. توى يه عكس يه دختر بچه ى مغول سوار بر يك گوزن بود. توى يه عكس ديگه يه گوزن نشسته بود، و يه پسر بچه بهش تكيه داده و

چند وقت پيش چند تا عكس بى نظير ديدم از مجله ى نشنال جئوگرافى. عكاس يه ايرانى بود به نام حميد سردار افخمى. عكس ها مربوط به بيابانگردهاى مغول بود. اون دوره زياد شيفته ى مغول ها و تبتی ها و باقى ساكنان آسياى ميانه بودم و مى گشتم دنبال عكس هاشون.
توى اين عكس ها، قبيله هاى مغولی نشون داده شده بودن، با گوزن هاى بزرگ سفيدی كه مثل اسب اهلى كرده بودن و به عنوان مَركَب ازشون استفاده مى كردن. توى يه عكس يه دختر بچه ى مغول سوار بر يك گوزن بود. توى يه عكس ديگه يه گوزن نشسته بود، و يه پسر بچه بهش تكيه داده و خوابش برده بود. توى فيلم هابيت صحنه اى هست كه اِلف ها گوزن سوار شدن؛ اما اين عكس ها واقعى بودن، جايى توى همين دنيا.

هر چقدر اين عكس ها نفسگير بودن، ايرانى بودن عكاس باعث دو برابر شدن هيجان مى شد: حميد سردار افخمى. با خودم فكر مى كردم يعنى كى بوده؟ چى شده كه سر از مغولستان درآورده؟ علاقه مند شدم و جستجوى مختصرى كردم و ديدم اين آقاى محترم، ماه ها رفته بين اين قبايل بيابانگرد زندگى كرده، اون هم بدون اين كه از دوربين عكاسى استفاده كنه، چون موجب بى اعتمادى بومى ها مى شده، تا عاقبت به عنوان يه دوست بين مغول ها پذيرفته شده و بالاخره تونسته عكاسى رو شروع كنه و اين صحنه هاى باشكوه رو ثبت كنه.

از اون موقع، اين زندگى برام شده بود يه جور رؤيا. از اون دست رؤياهايى كه مى دونى هيچ وقت براى تو محقق نميشن، اما دوست دارى توى جيبت نگه شون دارى و هر از چندى در بيارى و بین دوتا دست بگیری و تماشاشون كنى، تا درخشش شون سينه ت رو پر كنه.

اين كتاب چيزى از جنس همون درخشش رو بين صفحاتش داشت.

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Ahmad Sharabiani
Social and Cultural Anthropology: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions #15), John Monaghan, Peter Simply
تاریخ نخستین خوانش: دوازدهم ماه مارس سال 2015 م
عنوان: انسان شناسی اجتماعی و فرهنگی ؛ نویسنده: جان موناگان (ماناگن)؛ پیتر جاست؛ مترجم: احمدرضا تقاء؛ تهران، ماهی، 1393، در 211 ص، مصور، نقشه، نمایه، شابک: 9789642090365؛ موضوع: قوم شناسی قرن 21 م
ا. شربیانی
Dafydd
November 26, 2010 rated it it was amazing
What a relief from the turgid and paranoid academic writing I usually have to pile through. Yeah, in that location are problems with Anthropological approaches, and yes in that location is no stop to ideals discussions about representation, but how wonderful to read a book that states a confident conventionalities in the worth and usefulness of stepping out of your cultural boundaries and attempting to meet through the eyes of others.

This volume resonated with Barenboim & Said's 'Parallels and Paradoxes'; I think its about trying to

What a relief from the turgid and paranoid academic writing I usually have to pile through. Yes, there are problems with Anthropological approaches, and yeah there is no cease to ethics discussions about representation, but how wonderful to read a book that states a confident belief in the worth and usefulness of stepping out of your cultural boundaries and attempting to see through the optics of others.

This book resonated with Barenboim & Said'south 'Parallels and Paradoxes'; I call up its nigh trying to grapple with rationality without losing a perspective that is both intimately emotional and cosmically scientific - or perhaps with what Barenboim calls 'meta-rationality'. For me, this means using reason, merely moving beyond its blandishments of final resolutions and infinite growth/progress and accepting that to be human is to be able to glimpse that which is not wholly knowable. We alive for 70 odd years, just can understand the altitude between stars, and the time information technology took continents to form. Every bit individuals, we cannot accept part in that history (our species' history volition probably only amount to a ripple on the lake of eternity) but we tin can glimpse information technology. This is the wonder and pain of being human, and equally Barenboim says, the lesson music has to requite is that we must learn to yield as much as to manipulate.

This mental attitude shines through in this book. Arguments are made in linguistic communication, language is a tool of power. Arguments can defeat the purposes and processes of Anthropology. But there is no substitute for being there, there is nothing else.

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Donakrap Dokrappom
ถ้าถามว่ามานุษยวิทยาคืออะไร สำหรับผมแล้วบอกได้คำเดียวครับว่า ใบ้แดก!!

ต้องบอกก่อนว่า ผมค่อนข้างมีความหลังที่ไม่ค่อยดีนักกับหนังสือชุด ความรู้ฉบับพกพา ไม่อยากใช้คำว่าแขยงเลย พกพาจริงครับ พาไปไกล ๆ เลย... ชิบหายมึนหัวไปหมด อ่านไม่จบซักเล่ม!!!

จนมาเห็นคุณ Phakin N. (ขออนุญาตเอ่ยนาม) เพื่อนใน goodreads นี่แหละที่บอกว่าเล่มนี้ใคร ๆ ก็อ่านได้...

อ่าว ๆ ๆ ท้าทายผมเหรอ

จริงครับ หนังสือเล่มเล็ก ๆ เล่มนี้เหมาะมากกับการเปิดโลกทางด้านมานุษยวิทยาสำหรับคนทั่วไป เพราะมันได้พาเราไปรู้จักว่ามานุษยวิทยาคืออะไร มีคำกล

ถ้าถามว่ามานุษยวิทยาคืออะไร สำหรับผมแล้วบอกได้คำเดียวครับว่า ใบ้แดก!!

ต้องบอกก่อนว่า ผมค่อนข้างมีความหลังที่ไม่ค่อยดีนักกับหนังสือชุด ความรู้ฉบับพกพา ไม่อยากใช้คำว่าแขยงเลย พกพาจริงครับ พาไปไกล ๆ เลย... ชิบหายมึนหัวไปหมด อ่านไม่จบซักเล่ม!!!

จนมาเห็นคุณ Phakin N. (ขออนุญาตเอ่ยนาม) เพื่อนใน goodreads นี่แหละที่บอกว่าเล่มนี้ใคร ๆ ก็อ่านได้...

อ่าว ๆ ๆ ท้าทายผมเหรอ

จริงครับ หนังสือเล่มเล็ก ๆ เล่มนี้เหมาะมากกับการเปิดโลกทางด้านมานุษยวิทยาสำหรับคนทั่วไป เพราะมันได้พาเราไปรู้จักว่ามานุษยวิทยาคืออะไร มีคำกล่าวว่าถ้าอยากรู้ว่ามานุษยวิทยาคืออะไรให้ดูว่านักมานุษยวิทยาทำอะไรบ้าง หนังสือเล่มนี้พาเราไปถึงจุดนั้นครับ

ผู้เขียนได้เล่าภาพกว้าง ๆ ของศาสตร์ทางด้านนี้ผ่านประสบการณ์ของตัวเองในฐานะนักมานุษยวิทยา โดยมุ่งเน้นให้เห็นถึงลักษณะการทำงาน รูปแบบวิธีการศึกษาและเป้าหมายของการศึกษามนุษย์ในเชิงสังคมและวัฒนธรรมผ่าน case written report ที่ผู้เขียนได้ลงพื้นที่ไปทำการศึกษา ซึ่งมันทำให้เราเห็นภาพของการทำงานมากขึ้น

และตอนนี้หากมีใครมาถามผมว่ามานุษยวิทยาคืออะไร ผมก็จะตอบว่า เป็นศาสตร์ที่ทำให้เราเข้าใจคนอื่นมากขึ้นยังไงละครับ

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Deb
Dec 23, 2007 rated information technology really liked it
Recommends information technology for: anthropology students, interested others
Very short, clear, intelligent introduction to anthropology. I would recommend it to anyone taking an anthropology course, and to whatever teacher looking for a brief and affordable introduction to utilize in a class. This book just costs $10.00 from the publisher, compare to those huge $80 to $100 textbooks. For its size -- 160 small pages or so -- information technology contains a lot, including use of key theories (Durkheim, etc.), the cultural vs. social anthropology distinction, what distinguishes anthropology from soc Very short, clear, intelligent introduction to anthropology. I would recommend it to anyone taking an anthropology class, and to any teacher looking for a brief and affordable introduction to use in a class. This book but costs $ten.00 from the publisher, compare to those huge $fourscore to $100 textbooks. For its size -- 160 pocket-sized pages or so -- it contains a lot, including use of key theories (Durkheim, etc.), the cultural vs. social anthropology stardom, what distinguishes anthropology from sociology (these days, non much), and interesting examples from the authors' fieldwork in Oaxaca and Sumba, Indonesia. ...more
Canon
Dec 16, 2021 rated information technology it was ok
"Indeed, anthropologists may sometimes be carried away by the romance of their ain enterprise and value the 'unspoiled' traditions of a society far more than than the people themselves do," (26)

This wasn't one of the meliorate Very Short Introductions I've read. The subject field is extremely fascinating, a field I wanted some very basic orientation to (a desire that often leads me to the VSI series) and the authors brainstorm on a promising annotation, saying to look at what anthropologists do in order to empathise wh

"Indeed, anthropologists may sometimes exist carried away by the romance of their own enterprise and value the 'unspoiled' traditions of a order far more than the people themselves do," (26)

This wasn't i of the better Very Curt Introductions I've read. The subject is extremely fascinating, a field I wanted some very basic orientation to (a desire that oftentimes leads me to the VSI series) and the authors begin on a promising note, saying to look at what anthropologists do in club to sympathize what anthropology is. They besides cover a adept number of topics, including civilisation, society, class, sex activity, and religion — but in a fashion that, to me, oft felt frustratingly disjointed, more than of a laundry list of topics and thinkers than a helpful synthesis.

That being said, affiliate 2 on "culture" and chapter 5 on various modes of manufactured solidarity à la Durkheim (caste, course, tribe nation) were interesting despite the uninspiring presentation. One theme the authors hit on several times is unity-in-diversity across cultures, as when they remark: "Human cultures, then, seem to be infinitely variable, but in fact that variability takes place inside the boundaries produced by physical and mental capacities. Human languages, for instance, are tremendously various. differing In audio, grammar, and semantics. But all are dependent upon what appears to be a uniquely human capacity and predisposition for learning languages," (43). Additionally, they highlight three ongoing sites of controversy about the idea of culture:

1. The extent to which a 'culture' should be regarded every bit an integrated whole — For anthropologists in the integrated whole camp, they mention 3 leading theories: (1) total pattern (Gestalt); (two) code or program; and formal organization. For anthropologists in the anti-integrated whole military camp, they use the metaphor of a bricolage.
2. The extent to which 'culture' can be seen as an autonomous, "superorganic" entity — Civilisation as an accreted and structuring coral reef (Alfred Kroeber) vs. civilisation as a shared site of "communicative symbols that [organize] diversity" (Anthony Wallace).
3. How to best get most drawing boundaries effectually 'cultures' — they talk about nationalism and the idea of an essence of a people (monolithic, extensive) vs. culture as a process, open up-concluded and melding.

I found myself firmly on the anti-integrated whole/non-superorganic/non-essentialist side of these disagreements. On the whole idea of a national spirit or essence, I specially liked Arjun Appadurai's point that "this premise [flies] in the face up of 'unequal knowledge and the differential prestige of lifestyles, and [discourages] attention to the globe views and agency of those who are marginalized and dominated.'" This point, never articulated as well as this, has always been one of my spontaneous dissenting reactions to essentializing paeans to "Western civilisation," from the likes of Scruton or Blossom. The War does not appear to want a folk-consciousness, not even of the sort the Germans have engineered (Gravity's Rainbow 133).

On cultural relativism, I liked this passage: "Taken to an extreme, a view of relativism that consigns the members of different cultures to utterly different worlds would make all translation impossible, including the translation performed in ethnography. As Dan Sperber has observed, 'the relativist slogan, that people of different cultures live in different worlds, would be nonsense if understood as literally referring to concrete worlds', and an extreme 'relativist in earnest should be either quite pessimistic virtually the possibility of doing ethnography at all or extraordinarily optimistic about the abilities of ethnographers,'" (64). Although, I probably ultimately agree with Clifford Geertz'south "anti-anti-relativism," which deflates the entire issue'southward importance: "the crimes committed in the name of cultural relativism stake in comparison to those committed in the proper noun of cultural and national chauvinism or, for that affair, near whatsoever other 'ism,'" (66).

I likewise think this is a VSI that could practice with a new edition, to expand and update some of the content (information technology was published in 2000) — specially, I thought, their pontification on "the end of nationalism," where the authors comically include a Reasonable Caveat that, of course, they tin't be certain how things volition go, but actually it does seem possible that nationalism and various tribalisms volition fade as globalism and a new melding cosmopolitanism takes over. In 2021 this seems very naïve.

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Hamid   Rezaei
كتاب تنها بسنده مي‌كند به ديدگاههايي به تعبيري اساسي در رشته‌ي انسان شناسي و اتفاقن خيلي به جا و مختصر اين چنين مي‌كند. مجموعه كتابهاي مختصر مفيد نشر ماهي در مجموع پسنديد‌ه اند
Robert Day
People are strange when y'all're a stranger
Faces expect ugly when you lot're alone
Women seem wicked when you're unwanted
Streets are uneven when you're down

When you're strange
Faces come out of the rain
When y'all're strange
No 1 remembers your name
When you're strange
When you're strange
When you're strange
(The Doors)

We're all strangers somewhere. No matter how much we consider ourselves to be 'children of the globe', there'due south always going to exist someone that thinks of us as strangers, consummate with eerie mo

People are strange when you're a stranger
Faces expect ugly when you're solitary
Women seem wicked when you're unwanted
Streets are uneven when you're down

When you're strange
Faces come out of the pelting
When you're strange
No one remembers your name
When you're strange
When you lot're foreign
When y'all're strange
(The Doors)

We're all strangers somewhere. No matter how much we consider ourselves to be 'children of the world', there's always going to exist someone that thinks of us equally strangers, complete with eerie mood music.

To me, anthropology is about these strangers - which means that it is about each and every ane of u.s..

Y'all might take the impression that anthropology is all about studying hitherto undiscovered people living in jungles or remote valleys - cutting off from the world - and it is! Just there's more.

You lot call up that movie - Crocodile Dundee, where this guy from the Australian Outback visits New York and has all kind of adventures and strange experiences with the 'natives' of New York? Well - the Outback guy is pretty much doing what an anthropologist would.

In fact, this is happening all the time. Too as 'advanced' civilisations monitoring, cataloguing and preserving data almost 'primitive' civilisations, the opposite is happening too.

Judging by the rate at which we are using this planet up, we could practice with being studied and preserved for posterity.

Maybe a bit of pickling wouldn't get awry too.

I couldn't really get into this book. Information technology seemed to exist written by erstwhile guys - people that learned their trade from people that studied their trade in the 1950s. It could take done with a fresher center really.

A better approach would exist to explain anthropology in terms of Scientific discipline Fiction movies. All those Alien and Predator movies would be ideal to starting time with, not to mention Avatar and ... and pretty much any Sci-Fi movie really.

In fact - when I think nigh it - aren't all movies near strangeness?

Let's take a random moving-picture show - 'Pretty Adult female' - one culture meets another culture and they study and ultimately salve each other - that's the essence of anthropology really I approximate.

Yes - skip this book and go to the movies instead.

As I sit hither and tipperty-tap my fingers on the keyboard, I'chiliad thinking about the new Terminator flick - Arnie's going to be back!

Yay for strangeness.

...more than
David Roberts
Aug 12, 2013 rated it it was astonishing
The book I read to research this post was Social & Cultural Anthropology A Very Brusk Introduction past John Monaghan which is a very good book which I bought from kindle. This volume looks at various cultures and contrasts them and looks at what they accept in common. In particular they endeavor to look at a culture for what it is and non pass judgement on whether it's better or worse than some other. In a lot of cultures we take seen a kind of westernisation as they accept oft converted to either islam or c The volume I read to research this post was Social & Cultural Anthropology A Very Short Introduction by John Monaghan which is a very skilful book which I bought from kindle. This book looks at diverse cultures and contrasts them and looks at what they have in common. In item they try to look at a civilization for what information technology is and not pass judgement on whether information technology's amend or worse than another. In a lot of cultures nosotros have seen a kind of westernisation every bit they take often converted to either islam or christianity and members have tried to get jobs and get modern luxuries. In many places we have seen the laying on of electricity and water supplies etc. One group in particular they study is a group in Indonesia who are quite close knit and have refused to be inducted into this westernisation more often than not. They don't have utilities like electricity and stick with their religion and laws. They live in teak houses on stilts in a remote part of Bali & view our culture with great suspicion. Some members have converted to christianity and islam and got jobs simply are seen equally outcasts. They have their own laws and traditions and their ain kind of medicine. The witch doctors sort a lot of their problems out. There was ane case where one man threatened a lady because she was betrothed to someone else and she falsely accused him of hitting her and although everyone knew he hadn't he was fined and forced to beg her forgiveness to keep with tradition. He had broken their etiquette in a very serious mode. In many cultures there has too been issues with western diseases and even enslavement equally they accept been integrated with the due west likewise. ...more
Saied Davoodi
این سومین کتاب از مجموعه مختصر و مفید بود که خوندم.
حقیقتاً مختصر و مفید به علم انسان‌شناسی پرداخته. با این همه کتاب رو به انتها نرسوندم. چرا؟ چون قرار نیست همه کتاب‌ها رو تا انتها خوند. چون ممکنه بعضی کتاب‌ها برای ما نوشته نشده باشه. سرنوشت این کتاب هم همین بود. کتابی نبود که به کار من بیاد. به همین خاطر تنها به خوندن برخی قسمت‌های کتاب بسنده کردم و در نهایت ناتمام موند.
Pawarut Jongsirirag
เหมาะมากกับการเป็นหนังสือเล่มเเรกในการเข้าใจโลกของมานุษยวิทยา

ในเเต่ละบท จะอธิบายถึงคอนเซปคร่าวๆถึงสิ่งที่มานุษยวิทยาได้ศึกษา เช่น ชาติพันธุ์ วัฒนธรรม ชนชั้น เพศ ศาสนา เเละอื่นๆมากมาย พวกเขามีมุมมองต่อสิ่งเหล่านี้ยังไง มีเเง่มุมใดบ้างที่น่าลงลึกศึกษา

เเม้เนื้อหาจะดูหนักหน่วง เเต่การร้อยเรียงอธิบายทำได้ดีมากครับ ไม่ยากจนเกินไปเเละไม่ง่ายจนเกินไป ถ้าคุ้นเคยกับกรอบทางสังคมวิทยาเเละมานุษยวิทยามาบ้าง การอ่านจะลื่นไหลมากเลย เเต่ถ้าไม่เคยผ่านตางานสายนี้เลย ผมคิดว่าก็อ่านได้เข้าใจไม่ยากนะครับ มีบ้างจุดที

เหมาะมากกับการเป็นหนังสือเล่มเเรกในการเข้าใจโลกของมานุษยวิทยา

ในเเต่ละบท จะอธิบายถึงคอนเซปคร่าวๆถึงสิ่งที่มานุษยวิทยาได้ศึกษา เช่น ชาติพันธุ์ วัฒนธรรม ชนชั้น เพศ ศาสนา เเละอื่นๆมากมาย พวกเขามีมุมมองต่อสิ่งเหล่านี้ยังไง มีเเง่มุมใดบ้างที่น่าลงลึกศึกษา

เเม้เนื้อหาจะดูหนักหน่วง เเต่การร้อยเรียงอธิบายทำได้ดีมากครับ ไม่ยากจนเกินไปเเละไม่ง่ายจนเกินไป ถ้าคุ้นเคยกับกรอบทางสังคมวิทยาเเละมานุษยวิทยามาบ้าง การอ่านจะลื่นไหลมากเลย เเต่ถ้าไม่เคยผ่านตางานสายนี้เลย ผมคิดว่าก็อ่านได้เข้าใจไม่ยากนะครับ มีบ้างจุดที่ต้องใช้สมาธิมากๆอยู่บ้าง เเต่ก็ส่วนน้อย นอกนั้นอ่านเพลินมากจริงๆ

สิ่งที่นักมานุษยวิทยาพยายามบอกเราก็คือ ไม่มีสิ่งใดคือความจริงสากล ทุกสิ่งทุกอย่างมีความหลากหลายอยู่ในตัว ไม่มีความคิดความเชื่อใดที่จะดำรงอยู่ในลักษณะที่เป็นความจริงเเท้เเน่นอน

ความหลากหลายคือความจริง เเต่เป็นความจริงที่คนเราไม่ยอมรับมันเท่าไหร่เลย...

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Donna
Mar 13, 2015 rated it really liked it
Recommended reading for anybody with an interest in or embarking on a course in social anthropology. A rather nice introduction into the earth of social and cultural anthropology. What was particularly great about this fiddling volume was the outlining of the historical pathway of anthropology as a discipline and its identification of the dilemmas that take cropped up therein. Ethical considerations that will always arise are covered; an absolute minefield without a doubtfulness. But the importance of bein Recommended reading for anybody with an interest in or embarking on a course in social anthropology. A rather dainty introduction into the world of social and cultural anthropology. What was peculiarly great about this little volume was the outlining of the historical pathway of anthropology as a bailiwick and its identification of the dilemmas that have cropped up therein. Ethical considerations that will always arise are covered; an absolute minefield without a incertitude. But the importance of being and of observing is still of high regard - despite the difficulty of being able to truly relate to others and to other cultures, whatever the civilisation may be, putting aside one'south ain biases and judgement. Some interesting subjects appear in this book and some brilliant references for those of you who wish to read on. ...more
Dafna
Feb 18, 2017 rated it really liked it
Some of my professors employ this book to teach Intro to Anthropology class for not-anthro majors. As I am a TA for such a class, I decided to read it besides. I must say that the volume is very nicely organized - it focuses around main topics in anthropology (eastward.thou. fieldwork, club and culture, kinship, gender, caste and grade, religion, commutation) and presents a lot of funny fieldwork stories that are mashed up with theory. I must say it is a pretty nifty way of organizing the material. I even used Some of my professors use this volume to teach Intro to Anthropology course for non-anthro majors. As I am a TA for such a class, I decided to read it as well. I must say that the book is very nicely organized - information technology focuses around main topics in anthropology (east.g. fieldwork, society and culture, kinship, gender, caste and class, religion, exchange) and presents a lot of funny fieldwork stories that are mashed up with theory. I must say it is a pretty cracking fashion of organizing the material. I fifty-fifty used some of the fieldwork stories in my classes to starting time discussions, and must say that it worked quite well. If you are non well-versed in anthropological theory, this volume comes in really handy. But if you are - it is withal useful to skim through it in order to sympathise how you can teach theory with very physical examples from fieldwork. ...more
Damir
Sep 27, 2012 rated it information technology was amazing
A short, clear, intelligent introduction to the discipline of anthropology.
Usually inroductions are compiled equally textbooks serving the reader with definitions and typologies of the bones scientific language.
This short book all the same, approaches some of the about interesting report subjects of anthroplogy by offering an example from the career of the writers, so deconstructing it through several different scientific theories and viewpoints.
Piece of cake to read and easy to empathize, a great starting p
A brusque, articulate, intelligent introduction to the subject of anthropology.
Usually inroductions are compiled as textbooks serving the reader with definitions and typologies of the basic scientific linguistic communication.
This short volume nevertheless, approaches some of the most interesting study subjects of anthroplogy by offering an instance from the career of the writers, and then deconstructing it through several different scientific theories and viewpoints.
Easy to read and easy to empathize, a great starting indicate for anyone seriously interested in cultural anthropology and its many facets.
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Takumi
Aug 29, 2011 rated information technology liked it
Having prepared for my specialization of anthropology, I found that I'd never read an introductory book of information technology written in English language. And then I chose this one for the first step.
This brusque introduction shows how anthropologists remember rather than what anthropology is. It refers to nearly all major topics with arable examples some of which are from authors' ain fields. If you want the overview of the history of anthropology, this might be inadequate. Only nevertheless, a well-written nice introduction for beginn
Having prepared for my specialization of anthropology, I establish that I'd never read an introductory book of it written in English. So I chose this 1 for the first step.
This curt introduction shows how anthropologists think rather than what anthropology is. It refers to almost all major topics with abundant examples some of which are from authors' ain fields. If yous want the overview of the history of anthropology, this might exist inadequate. But still, a well-written nice introduction for beginners.
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Joe Iacovino
Mar 20, 2011 rated it actually liked it
I read this in preparation for my anthropology class and information technology served me well. It is interesting, informative, and fifty-fifty funny. This is a well-written volume for those who need to get their artillery around the basics on anthropology.
Shauna
Aug 19, 2011 rated it really liked it
A bully intro to the breadth of anthropology outlining its development equally a subject field, its fascinations, its dilemmas...written from a very humanistic perspective with expert examples from the author's own work. A bang-up intro to the latitude of anthropology outlining its development as a field of study, its fascinations, its dilemmas...written from a very humanistic perspective with good examples from the writer's own work. ...more
Budi Kurniawan
Dec 28, 2011 rated it really liked information technology
Great introductory volume on Social & Cultural Anthropology. It'southward very concise, and pretty piece of cake to understand. Swell introductory book on Social & Cultural Anthropology. It's very curtailed, and pretty easy to sympathise. ...more
Deidre
Nov 25, 2020 rated it it was ok
This is the beginning of these VSIs that I decided to read that is far removed from my formal discipline. Information technology has as well been my least favorite so far, but I don't believe one ascertainment to be the explanation for the other.
I read some of the other reviews. Many deem this likewise pedantic, too academic. I found it to be not nearly as intellectually stimulating as the other VSIs that I have read. There are some proficient thoughts, but nix earth shattering. I have never taken a course in anthropology or socio
This is the first of these VSIs that I decided to read that is far removed from my formal discipline. It has also been my least favorite so far, but I don't believe ane observation to exist the explanation for the other.
I read some of the other reviews. Many deem this too pedantic, also bookish. I institute it to exist non well-nigh as intellectually stimulating as the other VSIs that I have read. There are some adept thoughts, but nothing earth shattering. I have never taken a course in anthropology or sociology for that thing. Thus I expected to learn a fair amount, but alas, was unfulfilled.
I expected a history of the discipline with highlights of the contribution of key players. There is some of that but less than predictable. When the authors were focusing on explaining the research practices of anthropologists, I thought perhaps I would go an explanations with applications from within their research. A trifle, but certainly not the focus. Okay, so perhaps a history of the field of study and the applications to many other cultures? Again, some mentions, merely not the focus.
In terms of the language used to educate the lay person or undergraduate, this is a lovely text. I have marveled at the skill of the other VSI writers to summarize their disciplines then succinctly. I feel as though these chaps didn't draw out the blue prints before starting construction and changed their contractors a couple times.
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Poshi Getoshi
Most introductory texts are oriented on theories and have more encyclopaedic structure. This volume differs from that way past mostly telling stories from two ethnographies by the authors themselves, while using these stories to illustrate anthropological theories.
A very brusk though very rich intro to anthropology and absolute pleasure to read fifty-fifty if y'all're already familiar with these theories.
Most introductory texts are oriented on theories and have more than encyclopaedic construction. This book differs from that style by more often than not telling stories from ii ethnographies by the authors themselves, while using these stories to illustrate anthropological theories.
A very short though very rich intro to anthropology and accented pleasure to read even if you're already familiar with these theories.
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Mohammad Mirzaali
انسان‌شناسی در پی مشاهده و دست‌گذاشتن بر روی تنوع زیست آدم‌ها ست. به تعبیر دو مؤلف دید انسان‌شناختی به مخاطب خود می‌آموزد که زیر بار الفاظی چون طبیعت انسان و ذات بی‌تبدل او نرود. با وجود سختی‌های تألیف کتاب در دیسیپلینی که بر کار میدانی و قوم‌نگاری‌ها و... متکی ست، دو نویسنده کتاب را خواندنی نوشته‌اند و بصیرت‌هایی در انسان‌شناسی اجتماعی و فرهنگی، از قبیل موضوعاتی چون دین، ازدواج، جنسیت، طبقه یا قوم و... به دست می‌دهند
Valerie Brett
Jan 01, 2021 rated it really liked it
This is a more fun to read volume of the serial as it includes a lot of specific examples of unlike cultural things. Just information technology was published in 2000 and I experience like at that place's been a ton more than focus lately in social sciences on the ethical aspects of the disciplines, so it probably could use an update.
Chant
Oct 06, 2017 rated it liked it
Skillful introduction for people interested in this field. I would fifty-fifty suggest for people that are interested in pursuing this as an academic career.
flaams
Jan 31, 2020 rated it really liked it
this very cursory introduction has just saved my gpa lol
Frank
Apr 03, 2020 rated it it was ok
I decided information technology was fourth dimension to learn a bit about anthropology,. Just this book really didn't do anything to awaken an interest in me.

Does anthropology present likewise small a cross department of interesting topics to be engaging, or u.s.a. this just a weak volume? I'll take to endeavour again to find out.

I decided it was time to learn a bit most anthropology,. But this book really didn't do annihilation to awaken an interest in me.

Does anthropology present too small a cantankerous department of interesting topics to exist engaging, or us this merely a weak book? I'll accept to try again to discover out.

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Yusuf
October xi, 2020 rated it actually liked it
Very cursory, articulate and informative. Gives you lot ideas for further reading. I can't enquire for more really. Very brief, clear and informative. Gives you ideas for further reading. I can't ask for more really. ...more than
Paul,
Dec 12, 2015 rated it really liked it
Anthropology is a very easy field of study to depict and a very difficult one to define. What does an anthropologist do? How does that job get washed? That is a question that John Monaghan and Peter Just practice an admirable task of answering. More than that, they provide a slew of helpful secondary reading to follow up. This book was easy to read, insightful, and true to my own cross-cultural experiences. It also helps that Peter did his field work on the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia, where I happen to ha Anthropology is a very easy subject field to draw and a very difficult one to ascertain. What does an anthropologist do? How does that chore get done? That is a question that John Monaghan and Peter Just do an admirable job of answering. More than that, they provide a slew of helpful secondary reading to follow up. This book was easy to read, insightful, and true to my own cross-cultural experiences. Information technology also helps that Peter did his field work on the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia, where I happen to take been personally and worked. The story of local justice was EXACTLY what I needed to help other Westerners understand some of the subtexts that happen in this part of the globe. Highly recommended introduction to a fascinating field of study!

Hither are some of my favorite quotes:

If the way i perceives the earth is a product of ane'southward civilisation, so even more and so are the behavior, values, and social norms that govern i'southward behaviour. On what ground, so, tin can any ane gild claim a monopoly on moral truth or claim to have discovered a superior fix of norms and values? Behaviour that might exist nonsensical, illegal, or immoral in 1 society might be perfectly rational and socially accepted in another. ... One wonders, ultimately, if information technology is logically possible to simultaneously subscribe to both the notion of universal human rights and a conventionalities in the relativity of cultures. (p. 60,62)

In the aforementioned style, anthropologists accept long regarded the 'outsider's perspective' they bring to their subjects every bit one of the principal advantages of ethnographic method. A person studying his or her own culture can be likened to a fish trying to describe h2o. While the insider is capable of noticing subtle local variations, the outsider is far more probable to observe the tacit understandings that local people have for granted as 'common sense' or 'natural' categories of thought. (p.41)

The ethnographer faces more subtle difficulties, as well. Locally powerful individuals may endeavour to use the ethnographer every bit a prize or a pawn in their rivalries. Members of the community may have an exaggerated idea of what the ethnographer tin do for them, and make persistent demands that cannot be met. At the same time, the ethnographer frequently experiences the great joy of making new friends and the thrill of seeing and doing things he or she would never otherwise accept been able to encounter or do. As a day-to-day feel, fieldwork tin can exist filled with abruptly alternating emotional highs and lows. (p. 33)

Dialogue is the backbone of ethnography. While anthropologists make use of a variety of techniques to elicit and record data, the interview is by far the most important. Interviews can range in formality from highly structured question-and-respond sessions with indigenous specialists, to the recording of life histories, to breezy conversations, or to a take chances exchange during an unanticipated see. Ultimately, the key to ethnographic success is beingness in that location, available to observe, bachelor to follow upwards, available to accept advantage of the chance outcome. (p. 34)

Among the moral, philosophical, and political consequences of the emergence of the concept of culture has been the development of a doctrine of 'cultural relativism'. Nosotros start from the premise that our beliefs, morals, behaviours – fifty-fifty our very perceptions of the world around us – are the products of culture, learned as members of the communities in which we are reared. If, every bit we believe, the content of civilization is the product of the capricious, historical experience of a people, then what we are every bit social beings is besides an arbitrary, historical product. Because culture then securely and broadly determines our worldview, it stands to reason that we can have no objective basis for asserting that ane such worldview is superior to some other, or that i worldview tin can be used equally a yardstick to measure another. In this sense, cultures tin only exist judged relative to one another, and the meaning of a given belief or behaviour must kickoff and foremost be understood relative to its ain cultural context. That, in a nutshell, is the basis of what has come up to be called cultural relativism. (p. 59)

It is important to empathise that many anthropologists, especially in the United States, regard relativism not as a dogma or an ideological desideratum, only, at heart, as an empirical finding. (p. 59)

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Emily
Jan 23, 2020 rated it really liked it
was a very comprehensive refresher on all the of import bit of my Intro and Culture Theory anthro classes. Would recommend to anyone seriously considering anthro or wanting to empathize what it's all about. was a very comprehensive refresher on all the of import fleck of my Intro and Civilization Theory anthro classes. Would recommend to anyone seriously considering anthro or wanting to understand what it's all virtually. ...more
Caylin Dawson
Feb 28, 2017 rated it information technology was amazing
Some chapters were a fleck dry, only this book definitely has its moments. It was a wonderful reminder of why I dearest anthropology so much, and it was exceptionally informational also.

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